In the summer of 1893, more than 27 million people visited a temporary city built on Chicago's lakefront. They called it the White City. It existed for six months, burned partially to the ground after closing, and has never been forgotten. The 1893 World's Columbian Exposition didn't just showcase what Chicago was — it determined what the city would become. Michael Ferro, … [Read more...] about What the 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition Did to Chicago’s Art and Architecture Forever
Chicago Art Scene
Chicago’s August 2026 Art Roundup: Everything Worth Seeing This Month
August is Chicago's last full month of summer, and the city's art institutions are making the most of it. From a landmark photography retrospective arriving after stops at Tate Britain and the Musée d'Art Moderne de Paris, to a free immersive exhibition celebrating the musicians who built Chicago's experimental music identity, there is genuine depth to this month's offerings. … [Read more...] about Chicago’s August 2026 Art Roundup: Everything Worth Seeing This Month
Chicago’s Art Summer Is Here — Here’s Everything Worth Seeing Right Now
Some summers are just louder than others. Chicago in 2026 is one of them. Between a once-in-a-generation cultural opening on the South Side, a pair of major new shows at the MCA, and a full Art Institute summer lineup that spans two millennia of art history, the city has put together something genuinely rare: a season where it's hard to choose wrong. For Michael Ferro, … [Read more...] about Chicago’s Art Summer Is Here — Here’s Everything Worth Seeing Right Now
Alberto Aguilar at the Chicago Cultural Center Is One of the Most Human Shows in the City Right Now
There's something almost defiantly personal about the title. I just really want to tell you this one thing. It sounds less like an exhibition title and more like something you'd say at the end of a long conversation, when all the preamble has finally run out. That feeling is exactly the point. Chicago-based artist Alberto Aguilar's exhibition at the Chicago Cultural Center … [Read more...] about Alberto Aguilar at the Chicago Cultural Center Is One of the Most Human Shows in the City Right Now
EXPO Chicago 2026 Marks a New Era for the City’s Premier Art Fair
Something shifted at Navy Pier this April. EXPO Chicago returned April 9–12 for its annual takeover of Festival Hall, bringing together contemporary galleries from across the globe — but this year's edition carried a noticeably different energy. Quieter, maybe. More considered. The kind of fair where you actually stop in front of things rather than shuffling past them. For … [Read more...] about EXPO Chicago 2026 Marks a New Era for the City’s Premier Art Fair
